World War II Vet Overjoyed by Reunion With Trusted Rifle 73 Years in the Making

After more than 73 years, World War II veteran Dick Cowell has been reunited with his trusted M1 Garand rifle.

Cowell was 18 years old when he enlisted in the US Marine Corps during the second World War, an action that may come as no surprise, since Cowell comes from a long line of military men, going back to the Civil War.

He describes his time in the Marines as the “high point” of his life, Hot Topics reported.

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So when Cowell’s son, Richard Cowell, found the long-lost rifle for his now 90-year-old father, it was an emotional moment.

“It’s my baby,” Dick Cowell said. “I am very appreciative that Richard was able to find it after 73 years.”

Richard, 46, is the family historian and, to preserve his father’s legacy and bring a piece of history back into the family, Richard spent six months tracking down the old rifle.

“It didn’t matter the cost. The rifle was a piece of history and it is part of him,” Richard said. “I was going to buy it even if I had to mortgage the house.”

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Yet, when he first started the search, all Richard had to go by was the word “Springfield” written in cursive accompanied by serial number “3594593,” both of which he found in his father’s desk.

The Marine’s son finally found the rifle on gunbroker.com, a gun auction site, where he outbid another buyer.

“The rifle spent two weeks in my room before I gave it to my father,” Richard said. “I couldn’t take my eyes off it. I couldn’t believe it was finally ours.”

In fact, Veterans rarely get the opportunity to be reunited with their old firearms.

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“I have been in the serial number/inventory department for approximately eight years, and there have only been about five rifles that have been reunited,” said Jennifer Smith of the Civilian Marksmanship Program.

The non-profit organization, which ferries requests to find old firearms, admitted that they currently have 32 such requests on file but have been unable to fill them.

Although Richard went to the trouble of finding the old rifle, it was Cowell’s 11-year-old grandson, Tommy, who was given the honor of presenting the gift to his grandfather.

The rifle itself is — and had been — much more than just a gun for Cowell. His sergeant in the Marines told him it was his girlfriend, his wife, and his friend, instructing the young marine that he was to take it everywhere with him. In many ways, it was like another appendage during the war.

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“When I first fired this weapon, I tell you, it was something else,” Cowell said.

During his time in the military, Cowell earned the highest marks for excellence in marksmanship, Palm Beach Daily News reported.

Now reunited with the rifle, Cowell has opened up to his family in a way he never had before.

“My father has remembered things from the ’30s, ’40s, ’50s that we’ve never heard before,” Richard said.

A piece of history believed to have also been used during the Korean and Vietnam wars, the rifle is now bringing history to life for the Cowell family.

“It’s been such a bonding thing for all of them,” said Erin Cowell, Richard’s wife. “Every little boy loves a solider. And for Tommy, his grandpa is his soldier.”